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PS 635 ^^ PLAYS EXCHANGED 

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cop^i igbee's Popular Plays 



EI El El El El EI EI El El El EI El El EI El El El ElEID 



Graduation at 
^ ^ Gayville 



By 
WILLIS N. BUQBEE 



PRICE 25 CENTS 



El EI El El El EIEI EI El El El El El EI El El El EIQEI 



The Willis N. Bugbee Co. 

SYRACUSE, N. Y. 



The Bugbee Entertainments 

ARE FAVORITES EVERYWHERE 

Some Class. Commencement Play in 4 acts by 
Edith F. A. U. Painton, 6m. 9f. Claimed to be the 
best commencement play on the market. Full of good 
healthy humor. Time 1 hour 40 min. 35 cents. 

Aunt Sophronia at College. College comedy in 3 
acts by Willis N. Bugbee. One of the best short 
plays we have ever offered. Full of fun from start 
to finish. 5m., 7i. Time 1% hurs. 25 cents. 

Billy's Aunt Jane. Comedy in 3 acts by Willis N. 
Bugbee. For school or community. Good darkey 
character. 8m., 7f. Time, 1^^ to 2 hours. 25 cents. 

Patriotism at Boggsville. Play for grammar grades. 
8m., 5f. Good for indoors or out. A very up-to-date 
play. Time, 30 minutes. 25 cents. 

Graduation at Gayville. A play for grammar grades. 
6m., 6f. Includes a mock commencement, class poem, 
etc. Time, 30 minutes. 25 cents. 

Uncle Peter's Proposal. A farce in 2 acts by W. T. 
Newton. 3m., 2f. A very clever little play. Time, 30 
minutes. 25 cents. 

Coonville 'Ristocrat Club. A darkey play for church 
or school or any occasion. Clean and wholesome. 6m., 
6f. Time, 1 hour. 25 cents. 

Darktown Social Betterment S'ciety. A good whole- 
some darkey play. Very funny. For 9 male charac- 
ters. Time, 30 minutes. 25 cents. 

Uncle Eben's S'prise Party. Here is another splen- 
did negro play. It certainly is a surprise party. 
6m., 6f. Time, 30 min. 25 cents. 

Uncle Si and the Sunbeam Club. A delightful play 
for grammar grades. Opportunity for specialties. 7m., 
7f. Time, 30 min. '25 cents. 

The Willis N. Bugbee Co., Syracuse, N. Y. 



Bu^bee's Popular Plays 

Graduation at 
^ ^ Gayville 



. . . BY . . . 
WILLIS N. BUGBEE 

Author of ''Billy's Aunt Jane,'' "Aunt Sophronia at College," 
"Coonville 'Ristocrat Cluh," "Patriotism at Boggsville," etc. 



Copyright 1918, by Willis N. Bugbee 



THE WILLIS N. BUGBEE CO, 

SYRACUSE, N. Y. 



"P ^ 



\s 






Graduation at Gayville 



CHARACTERS 



Bert Slawson 
Roy Bakton 
Ben Wright 
Harley Gray 
Jennie Green 
Anna Peters 
Peggy McNeal 
Alice Briggs 



The Graduates. 



Sam Johnson, a Colored Chore Boy. " 

Jerry Hobson, an Errand Boy. 
Nora Sullivan, the Janitor's Helper. 
Sallie McPherson, a Village Girl. 

Tims of Playing: Thirty minutes. 

COSTUMES 

The graduates wear ordinary school clothes. All others wear 
work clothes. 

Scene: A platform, either outdoors or indoors. A few 
chairs, strips of bunting or evergreens are scattered al)out. A 
large motto, "LOYALTY," appears on wall. Girls are discovered 
at wo7'k on the decorations. 



CLD 50463 

SEP 25 ibi8 



^«P92-008727 



Graduation at Gayvillc 

Anna. I wonder where those boys can be all this time. How 
do they expect we're going to get things ready for the commence- 
ment exercises if they're not here to help. We giirls can't do it 
alone. 

Peggy. We seem to have been doing, the biggest part of it 
so far. 

Anna. Simply because it wouldn't be done if we didn't do it. 

Alice. I say, let's strike for higher wages. 

Anna. We'll strike those boys if they don't show up pretty 
soon. 

Peggy. How will you strike them if they're not here? 

Jennie. Now, girls* you shouldn't feel that way. Remember 
our motto is "Loyalty" — loyalty to our class, to our school and 
to our country. 

Anna. Yes, I know it. It was the boys' idea and now they 
won't do a thing to help. I don't call that very loyal. 

Peggy. I think you'll find them down on the ball ground this 
very minute. Harley Gray said this morning they expected to 
have to do some tall hustling to beat the Beanville nine. 

Anna. Well, I don't care if — 

Jennie. Yes, you do, Anna. 

Anna. How do you know I care? 

Jennie. Because I know you are loyal to out school. You 
wouldn't want it said that the Beanville nine had beaten our 
boys, would you? 

Anna. Why, n — no — I don't know as I would. 

Jennie. Of course not — none of us would. 

Anna. But doesn't it seem as if the boys ougjit to do their 
share? 

Jennie. Yes, of course, and no doubt they would if we spoke 
to them. They've probably forgotten all about it. 

AicE. Forgotten? The idea! Let's go and Jog their 
memories then. 

Anna. All right. Come on, everybody. (Exeunt.) 



4 GRADUATION AT GAYVILLE 

(Enter Sam with box. Sets it down as if very heavy.) 
Sam. Golly, dat box suah am heaby. I jes' wondah wat am 
in it. Like enuff it am bombs. Dey tole me to be mighty keerful 
not to drop it. Yes, sah, I betcha dat am jes' wat it is — bombs — 
an' dey's 'fraid it am gwineter splode. (Backs away from 'box.) 
Reckon I jes' bettah not disturb it. 

(Enter Boys.) 

Bert. Hello, Sam. What appears to be the trouble? What's 
on your mind? 

Sam. Nuffin's on my mind, only I jes' brought dat box ob 
bombs in heah. (Roy Icicles J)ox.) Hoi' on dar! Hoi' on dar! 
Don't kick dat box. It'll blow us all into de middle ob nex' week 
suah's yo' born. 

Roy. Bombs? What are you talking about, Sam? 

Sam. Yes, sah, dat's a fac'. Dar's bombs in dar. I jes' now 
brought 'em in heah. 

Habley. Bombs! Ha! ha! So's your grandmother in there. 

Sam. No, sah, she couldn't squeeze in dat box noways. My 
grandmammy weighs free hundred an' fohty-seben pounds widout 
no shoes nor stockin's on. 

Harley. Gee whiz! Some grandmother! 

Ben. I should say so! But you don't need to worry about 
bombs, Sam. There's no bombs in there. There's a bust in that 
box. 

Sam. a bust? 

Ben. Yes, sir — a bust of George Washington. We're going 
to present it to the school as our class gift. 

Sam. I reckon my arms am mos' busted totin' it. 

Bert. Say, do you know where the girls are, Sam? 

Sam. Golly, I dunno. I jes' come heah 'bout twenty-free 
seconds ago. 

Roy. I'd like to know how they expect we're going to help 
them when they're never around to show us. 

Habley. That's just what I say. Every time we get ready 
to work there are no girls in sight. 

Ben. And I suppose when the girls are here not a boy is to 
be seen. 



I 



GRADUATION AT GAYVILLE 5 

Roy. Well, suppose we g,o and hunt them up right now. 

Harley. That's the only thing to be done under the circum- 
stances. {All start to go.) 

Bert. Oh, say, Sam, if Jerry comes with the chairs tell him 
to wait till we get back. 

Sam. Yes, sah. {Exit Boys.) By grashus! Dem graduates 
do take de cake. Heah dey's gettin' ready fo' a commencement 
an' wat is it dey's gwineter commence, I jes' like to know. My! 
but dey do feel dere oats. Dey's gettin' so swelled up dat I'se 
mighty 'fraid dey's gwineter stretch out dere diaphragms. 
{Enter Jerry with chairs.) 

Jerry. Hello, Sam! What's the matter this mornin'? 

Sam. Nuffin' de mattah 'ceptin' dat we'se gettin' ready to 
commence. 

Jerry. Gettin' ready to commence what? 

Sam. I dunno jes' what 'tis, but we suah am gwine hab 
some commencement. 

Jerry. Haw! haw! Well, here's the chairs that was ordered. 

Sam. Yes, sah, an' Mistah Bert says yo' am to wait till he 
comes back. 

Jerry. Gosh! How am I to get my work done loaf in' 'round 
here? 

{Enter Nora with 'broom.) 

Nora. Wheriver be the byes an' the gurrls! They told me 
to come an' clane up ready for the cilibration, so here I be an' 
niver a wan iv thim around at all, at all. 

Sam. Dey'll be back fo' long, Miss Nora. Yo' jes' bettah sot 
down an' wait a while. 

Nora. Faix, an' 'tis a bit iv a rist I do be nadin', that's 
thrue. {Sits down.) 

Jerry. I vum! See what's comin' now — a hull posy bed. 

Nora. Shure an' 'tis your own swateheart, Sallie MacPher- 
son, wid an armful iv roses. 

Jerry. So' tis. I couldn't see her face. 

{Enter Sallie with armful of flowers.) 

Jerry. Hello, Sallie. 

Sallie. Hello, Jerry! What you doing here? , ^ 



6 GRADUATION AT GAYVILLE 

Jerry. Just settin', that's all. What's goin' to be did with 
the flowers? 

Sallie. They've got to have 'em to graduate with, so they 
have. 

Nora. Are you goin' to graduate, Sallie? 

Sallie. Me ^graduate? I should say not. 

Jerry. Sallie'n me never got beyond the fifth grade. 

Nora. Shure an' I niver got so far as that mesilf. 

Sam. Golly, I nebber got out of de primer class, yet. 

Nora. That's just because your head is so hard the larnin' 
couldn't iver get thru it. 

Jerry. Ho! ho! he! he! Here we are all ready. Wouldn't 
we make a fine lookin' class jest as we be? 

Sallie. Oh. my! Wouldn't that be funny! Let's pretend 
we really are graduating. What do we have to do, anyway? 

Sam. I know. Fust thing we all sing. 

Sallie. That's easy enough. We can all do that. 

Sam. Nex' ting, am de salut — cry. 

Jerry. What do we salute? 

Sam. Nuffin only de audience an' de class an' ebrybody else. 
I knows most' ob it case I'se heard Mistah Bert say it so much. 
Wat I don't know I can jes' make up as I goes along. 

Jerry. Then what after you get through salutin? 

Sam. Well, den somebody gets up an' tells de pres'dent an' 
de Congress how to run de gubment. 

Nora. Begorra, that'll be Jerry. He can do it to 
perfection. 

Sam. Den somebody else makes a speech or mebbe dey reads 
a pome an' den comes de valleydictory. Dat's de windup, an' den 
somebody passes de — passes de — de — 

Sallie The contribution box? 

Sam. Lawdy sakes, no. Dey passes de sheepskins. 

Sallie. Sheepskins? 

Sam. Yes, um, de diplomas — papers wot dey gets fo' 
graduatin'. 

Jerry. Well, if everybody's ready let's begin. 



GRADUATION AT GAYVILLrE 7 

SAI.LIE. Hadn't we ought to wear some flowers? I brought 
along some extra ones. 

Jerry. Sure! Pass 'em around, Sallie. (Sallie passes 
flowers to each. They pin them on waists or lapels.) Now pro- 
ceed with the ceremony an' everybody sing. 

(All join in singing any school or college song.) 

Sam. Now I'll gib de salut — ory. 

Ladies an' Gemman: We welcome yo' to dese graduatin' 
exercises today. I salute yo' in de name of our classmates. We 
is mighty glad to hab yo' heah. Eber since we started to go to 
school in dese halls of learnin' we hab been crammin' de learnin' 
into our heads in big chunks till we's got so much ob it in dar 
dat — dat — dat our heads am likely to bust if we don't take some 
vacation right away quick. We hab chosen de word wat yo' see 
jes' above us fo' our motto. Dat means dat we'se gwinter be loyal 
to ebrybody — to our classmates if dey is loyal to us — to our 
teachers no mattah if dey do use de birch rod on us free times a 
day — to our frien's if they don't ask to borrow money ob us — to 
our school an' to our country an 'to ebrybody. We salutes yo* in 
de name of loyalty. Dat am all. 

Sallie. Now, Jerry, it's your turn. 

Jerry. Gee! I dunno nothin' 'bout runnin' the government. 
The pres'dent's doin' all right so what's the use of makin' a kick. 
If I could do it any better I'd run for the legislatur' or something 
else. 

Nora. I bet 'twould be something ilse. I niver saw yez do 
any runnin' yit. Moreover yez are not much iv a graduate if yez 
don't know how to run the government. 

Jerry. Well, you see, this idee came so sudden like I ain't 
had no time to look in the dictionary for any big words nor I 
ain't had time to copy nothin' out of the magazines, either. 

Sam. Den it am yo' turn nex', Miss Nora. 

Jerry. An' then you have to give the valley-dictory, Sallie. 

Sallie. What's a valley-dictory? 

Jerry. That's jest another word for "good-bye." 

Sallie. Pshaw! Is that all 'tis? I can do that. 



8 GRADUATION AT GAYVILLE 

Nora. Wull, begorra, ye've got me shtuck. I dunno how to 
make speeches but I can sing yez a song. 

Several. Good enough! 

Jerry. Pitch in, Nora, that's better than a speech. 

(Nora sings and others join in chorus. Any good, lively song 
may he used. Enter other boys and girls at one side during the 
last chorus. All clap hands at conclusion of song.) 

Harley. Well, well, what's the rumpus? 

Sam. Nuffin', only we'se habin' a lil' commencement ob our 
own. 

Roy. Well, how are you coming on? 

Sallie. Splendid! We've got all did but the valley-dictory, 
an' I don't know nothin' about how to do that except to say, 
"Glad you came — good-bye — hope you'll come again." 

Alice. That's enough for a "valley-dictory." But I'm afraid 
you'll have to postpone your commencement now because we've 
got to use the stage. 

Sallie. Ma sent over the roses for you. Here they are. I've 
got to hurry home. (Exit.) 

Jerry. An' here's the chairs. Shall I get some more? 

Bert. No, but you'd better go and get the palms. (Exit 
Jerry.) 

Nora. An' I'm all ready to clane up soon as yez tell me 
where to begin. 

Peggy. We've got to finish putting, these decorations up 
first, then we want you to sweep the stage. (Boys and girls work 
at decorations.) 

Anna. Well, while you people are at work I'll be rehearsing 
my essay. 

Jennie. When am I going to rehearse my poem, I'd like to 
know? 

Anna. You'll have to wait until I get through. 

Jennie. But you've been rehearsing your essay for two 
weeks. 

Anna. Why, Jennie Green, what a fib. 

Jennie. Well, it seems that long, anyway. 



GRADUATION AT GAYVILLE 9 

Ben. Do stop quarrelling. Why don't one of you stand on 
this side and the other one on that side? 

Anna. We might do that. 

(They arrange on opposite sides for rehearsing.) 

Sam. An' I'll be de judge of which am de bes'. 

Anna. Listen, Peggy. See if I g,et it right. (Reads) "It is 
wonderful to think of the changes that have taken place in the 
last half century — in the past twenty-five years, or even in the 
past decade. Who would ever have dreamed a hundred years 
ago that today we should travel about in horseless carriages?" 

Haeley. You mean "benzine buggies," don't you? 

Ben. a little bit higher over there on that end. 

Anna. Mercy! I'm almost screaming now. 

Ben. Shucks! I'm talking to Bert about these decorations. 

Peggy. But really, Anna, you don't raise your voice as you 
ought. That last is a question you know? 

Anna. How's this? "Who would ever have dreamed a hun- 
dred years ago that today we should travel about in horseless 
carriages?" 

Peggy. That's better. 

Jennie (to Alice). Tell me if I don't speak plain enough, 
Alice. 

Alice. All right. "Sail on! Sail on!" as Columbus would 
say. 

Jennie (reading): 

Friends and classmates, here assembled, 

We have met to say good-bye; 
Though we're tired and worn with study, 

Yet this parting brings a sigh; 
Oft perhaps we've been too careless 
' And have minded not the rule, 

Yet we're loyal to our teachers, 
We are loyal to our school. 

Alice. That's very good only not quite loud enough. Start 
over again. 



10 GRADUATION AT GAYVILLE 

Anna. "Who would have dreamed fifty years ago that today 
men would be flying, over hills and valleys, over rivers and lakes 
and oceans, over desert lands and fertile fields like the very birds 
of the air? Who would have dreamed twenty-five years ago — " 

Sam. Golly, dey wouldn't do no dreamin' if dey was heah 
now. 

Ben. You're right about that, Sam. Rip Van Winkle 
wouldn't have stood a ghost of a show here. 

Anna. "Who would have dreamed twenty-five years ago 
that—" 

Roy. That such a remarkable class as this should ever 
happen^ at Gayville. 

Anna. Roy Barton, what do you mean? 

Roy. Well, isn't that a fact? 

Anna. Maybe it is but you've no business to interrupt me 
right in the middle of my essay. 

Roy. I humbly beg your pardon. 

Anna. Well, you'd better. 

Jennie. I think I ought to have a chance to rehearse my 
poem now. 

Anna. I started first. You ought to let me finish. 

Alice. Go ahead, Jennie, you can both rehearse together. 

Jennie (loudly). 

"Friends and classmates, here assembled, 
We have met to say good-bye — " 

Anna (loudly). "Who would have dreamed twenty-five years 
ago — " 

(Boys start pounding. Enter Jerry with palms.) 

Jennie. Mercy me! What a racket! 

Anna. Dear me! I can't do anything here. 

Jerry. Where are you going to have these palms? 

Peggy. Right here, Jerry, and the chairs will go here 
(arranges them). 

Bert. Well, there! I guess that will do for the decorations. 

(The girls are husy arranging chairs.) 

Harley. Gee! I'm tired, boys! Let's sit down and rest a 
minute. 



GRADUATION AT GAYVILLE U 

Jennie. Hold on! Let's arrange ourselves just as we're 
going to sit during the exercises. 

Heney. You girls will have to show us where our seats are 
then. 

Alice. Certainly, we can do that. You boys are to sit over 
here (shows places) and we girls are to sit here. (They sit 
doivn.) 

Ben. My, but you're awful particular. Any old seat is good 
enough for me. 

Jennie. Now may I read my poem? 

Several. Sure thing. Proceed with the great literary 
production. 

Jennie (reads). 

Friends and classmates here assembled, 

We have met to say good-bye; 
Though we're tired and worn with study, 

Yet this parting brings a sigh; 
Oft perhaps we've been too careless 

And have minded not the rule. 
Yet we're loyal to our teachers, — 

We are loyal to our school. 

We are loyal to our classmates 

With their faces fresh and bright; 
We are loyal to our parents, 

Who have guided us arig;ht; 
We are loyal to our country 

And its ruling magistrate; 
We are loyal to our village; 

(Suhstitute ''township if desired.) 

We are loyal to our state. 

Loyalty is our motto ever 

As along Life's path we go. 
Though Life's storms may oft beset us 

And we're harassed by the foe. 



12 GRADUATION AT GAYVILLE 

Though in foreign climes we wander, 

On the land or on the sea — 
We'll be loyal to our colors 
And the "flag that makes us free." 

Henry. That's very good, indeed. Don't you think so, boys? 

Boys. Fine! Splendid! Bully! 

Bex. Almost as good as I could have done it. 

Jennie. You're making fun of it now. 

Habley. Indeed we are not. 

Ben. How about your essay, Anna? We might as well go 
through with that ordeal while we are about it. 

Anna. No, thanks. I don't think I need any more 
rehearsing- 

RoY. Well, then, let's sing the class song. 

Several. Yes, let's! 

Alice. And let everyody do their level best. Ready! Pitch 
in! 

All join in singing class song. The class yell may he given 
as the 

Curtain Palls. 



*^^^^ 



Thb Mercantile Press 

345 W. Fayette St. 

Syracuse, N. T. 



The Bugbee Entertainments 

ARE FAVORITES EVERYWHERE 



Hiram and the Peddlers. A farce in 1 act. The 
climax is a great surprise. 5m., 2f. Time, 30 min. 
25 cents. 

Closing Day at Beanville School. The most popular 
play for intermediate grades we have ever offered. 
7m., 7i. (more or less).- Time, 30 min., or more. 25 
cents. 

Seven Little Soldiers and Seven Little Maids. For 

primary or intermediate grades. A splendid patriotic 
number. Book contains also "The Little Patriots' 
Loyalty Drill. 25 cents. 

Midgets* Grand Parade. A delightful pageant for 
little tots. Very easy to produce. Time, 30 min. 25 
cents. 

Funny Little Food Folks. A novelty entertainment 
for children. This is something different. Time, 30 
min. 25 cents. 

Jolly Christmas Book. By Willis N. Bugbee. The 
only patriotic Christmas book on the market. Full 
of good things for a Red Cross or patriotic Christmas 
program. 30 cents. 

America's Flag. A beautiful patriotic march and 
drill with tableaux. For 8 or 12 girls. 25 cents. 

Following the Stars and Stripes. A splendid new 
patriotic pageant. This should be on every program. 
For any number of children. Time, 15 to 45 min. 
25 cents. 

The Spirit of Christmas Time. A delightful pageant 
introducing pretty little drills, dances, songs, tableaux, 
etc. For any number. 25 cents. 

The Willis N. Bugbee Co., Syracuse, N. Y. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

016 102 493 4 




Two Patriotic Numbers 

FOLLOWING THE STARS AND STRIPES 

A Patriotic Pageant by Willis N. Bugbee 

Introduces Betsy Ross, Minutemen, Daughters of 
Liberty, Volunteers, Barbara Frietchie, Soldiers and 
Sailors, Red Cross Nurses, College Boys, School Girls, 
Tradespeople, etc. Suggests songs, drills, dances, 
tableaux, etc. Should be included in every patriotic 
or Red Cross program. Price 25 cents. 

PATRIOTISM AT BOGGSVILLE 
A Play For Grammar Grades 

A lively little play full of fun and patriotism. Mr. 
Wigglesworth, a deaf old miser; Hi Bartlett, vi^ho al- 
ways does as Bill does; and Pat McGinnis furnish 
the comedy. A flag raising in the second act. A 
splendid number. 25 cents. <^^^ 

The Willis N. Bugbee Co., Syracuse, N. Y. 



Mercantile Press. 345 W. Fayette St., Syracuse. N. Y. 



Holli 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

HIP. 

016 102 493 4 ^ 



